Mr Kishore Biyani is "International Retailer of the Year"

Mr Kishore Biyani,who heads India's largest retail group, Pantaloon Retail, was honored with the International Retailer of the Year Award by the American retail industry . (The US National Retail Federation is the world's largest retail trade association, representing an American industry with annual sales of USD 4.5 trillion.) This year, for the first time, the group picked an Indian company, for the International Retailer of the Year award at its annual convention in New York.

"They're interesting to us because they are very agile. They are focused on giving the customer exactly what they want. They will sell in whatever format is needed, from food to electronics to high fashion apparel. And they really are a good example to all the other retailers who come here to learn."

The Indian retail industry is just about hotting up -with a lot of contenders getting their act together. And in different shapes and sizes :

-Reliance Retail has hired almost 6000 professionals in the last one year-at a unenviable pace!

-ITCs choupal fresh initiative is hovering around 'contact farming ' and not involved in 'contract farming '

-Bharti group and Walmart are entering into the wholesale cash n carry format!

-The most experienced player Shoppers Stop feels the challenges are going to revolve around property prices (real estate valuation) and the people ( war for talent!)

- And we are just beginning to read about Costco Wholesale Corp's foray into India!!

Yes, 2007 is the Year to watch out for... all those returning Indians who have substantial expertise in the retail sector -supply chain, sourcing, buying, merchandising warehousing domains.